LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1051, 14 February 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

—♦ ,'.' In our issue, of February 10,'' under the heading "Angry Unionists,'', we published oertain statements supplied-, by two members of tho Waterside .Workers' Union, Messrs. Dowdall and Green. In tho course of the statements in question the assertion was made that Mr. D. M'Laren did not represent the Waterside Workers and that "in every disputo ho has aflyised them to accept the employers conditions, which may be very right from the capitalists' point of view, but certainly not from the wage slaves' point of view.". We find-this assertion to be quite without foundations and .regret that it should have been eiven publicity. Wo frequently differ with Mr; M'Laren on political issues, but >yo should bo 6orry indeed to do him the injustice of appearing to endorse in any way the statement quoted above.

The telegram which was received from Auckland on Sunday night was in error in stating that the Maherio had missed connection tlio southern express. Tho steamer was up to' tiitfe, and the mails in consequence reached Wellington last evening at their due date. ;

The action for libel,-TV*. F. Massey,' Leador of,; tho Opposition, v. the "New Zealand Times''* Company, Ltd., a. claim for .£2OOO, arising, out of a cartoon published in tho defendant company's newspapor towards tho, end of last year is to come on for hearing in the Supremo Court to-day, before Sir. Justico Chapman, and a jury of twelve.

The City Council, at its last. meeting, authorised the ordering of a shapingmachine and'a punching and shearing machine for the Tramway Department. These machines are to be installed at tho. Newtown sheds. . The volume of repair work carried pn is steadily increasing, and necessitates an increase of plant; The Health Committee of the City Council will probably, investigate to-day an alleged nuisanco about w;h)ch a. denu» ••tation waiteil on the ' counci|.'at,.TU its' meeting... .' 'iTib enrolment of municipal electors is still -proceeding apace,: applications coming in at the ratci'of three or four hundred.a day. "J ' '' , '•••■ •',! Two ■ carpenters > who ''arrived - in' Wei-, lington by, tho ; Tongariro .on -Saturday left immediately for Auckland. ; ;. 'I'he woman of pioneer type-who could Swing an. axe or handle a shovel, as .well as preside iA the region of-domestic'af-fairs, is not so common as she used to be, but sho is. not yet extinct.' "A local tsident who strolled through 'a, settleent, not far from Wellington, the' other day, observed the wife'of a settler ably assisting her' huiband in 1 a Wt'of pick and shovel work. The task in-hand was that-of -"trenching" the section. While her .husband laboured at the bottom,of a trench, the woman, cast the spoil over a distance of about eight feet.- She had perfect' command of her shovel/ according to the observant passer-by, and appeared to rather like the exercise than othenvis3. Further on, tho traveller came across a 'coup!e of women energetic-1 ally employed in grubbing gorse. . I

Cabinet has decided to: invite'-tenders for a large and up-to-date hospital at a cost, of several thousands of-pounds; to take thb placo of St. Helen's Hospital, Wellington. This is because it is recognised that tho present hospital is inadequate to tho .needs of-the . city. • ■

Tho Tramway Band' left yesterday morning for i'almerston North,'where; it will take part in the competitions which commenced yesterday. ' Tho Hupmobile touring party, who are travelling round the world in a : motorcar, new. to these parts,will shortly arrive m Wellington. The partv, which .consists of Messrs. Hanlon and" Jones (of the Hupmobile Company), Mr. 11. B. bpinks (Auckland representative),. Mr. •Miller'(manager of tho New Zealand Express Company), and Mr. H. Reimers (of lteimers and Roache, who control the jNorth Island), -left Auckland on Saturday last, and, according to a private telegram received in Wellington yesterday, made the run to Rotorua in eight -hours.From thero .they will speed to Taupo and Nap then .across the Island to WangaNorth, and so down'to Wellington. . On ; this trip tho original touring car.te being accompanied by two otlter Hupmobilos. After a run through the South Island, Messrs. Hanlon and Jones, will proceed from the Bluff to Hobart and Melbourne, tHence.by car to Sydney, and later'journey, through Japan, China, Africa, Egypt, Italy, France, Lugland, and Germany. Mr. Drake, •brother of the president of tho Hupmobile Company; has unfortunately been laid up in Auckland, and will J 'not rejoin the party until.it- reaches Sydney. .

In reply to a question.'raised. by tho Petone Borough Council with referenco to trawlinpr in the harbour, the Marine Department states, in a letter read, at the council meeting last evening, that no application has been received by tho Department for permission to trawl. The present prohibited area comprises that portion of the harbour northward and eastward of a .right line., drawn from tho seaward end of the Railway Wharf to the south-east-end of Somes Island, thence to the n6rthernmost noint of. Ward Island, and thence to Arthur Point on the mainland,. south .of Muritiu. This is considered a reasonable protection for line fishermen, and the DepArtment-docs not contemplate any alteration. ,

Tho leading article in the London "Times" of December 31 last is" seventeen columns in length, and is a review of the year 1910. It is interspersed with headings, one of which is "Australasian Politics." Tho politics of New Zealand are summed up in two lines: "I.ord Islington succeeded Loril rinnket as Governor of New Zealand in June.", Simply that, and nothing more.

Referring to the'l,aw Society's telephones in the loeal Courts, tho annual report o ftlio Wellington branch of the society says that considerably aniioyanco lmving been caused by persons (not: always solicitors) using the fociet.v's telephones iu'the robing room and . olieitors' room for communications with outside bureaus, tho cost of which was debited to the society's account, tho council It been ■ led to close these instruments against bureau communications.' Any such communications now necesary must fro through tho library telephone ami the Government charge must be pajd to the librarian.

At the Wellington Philosophical Societies meeting on Tuesday next, Mr. W. S. La Trobc will read a paper oil "The MeehMiUm of'" Astronomical' '' lustru* meats."-

Our Masterton correspondent telegraphs that Mr. A. W. Hogg, M.P., last night received a telegram from Sir Joseph Ward, stating that a tender had been accepted for a new Courthouse in Masterton. The name of the succesful tenderer has not transpired. ... • . >

Detective Cassells and Constable Sath'erly arrested a man at Reikorangi yesterday, be charged (1) with forging, on December 29, 1910, the name of Norman Williams to an order for and uttering the same to Chas. Bird.tand (2) with forging, on January 11 last, the name of M. Baigent, sawmiller,' to an order for -£8-1 and uttering the same to Chas. Bird.

Adult passengers by the morning special cars oil Sunday last totalled "327, and children 16. 'Ihero were 102, passengers by tho 9.50 p.m. car to Constable Street, 67 on the 10 p.m. car to Newtown, and 69 on the 10 p.m. car from tho Goverrinient Railway Station to Lyall Bay. During last week 128 passengers" travelled by the midnight car from Government Station to Newtown. • , .

Negotiations' are still in progress between the City Council and Messrs. Chandler'and Co., of Auckland, who have made an offer for the right to display advertisements inside the - corporation cars.

i The anniversary services in connection with the Taranaki Street Wesley Church were held on Sunday. The Rev; Dewdney preached, .at the morning £«r-. vice, and the Rev". S. J. Serpell in tho evening. The church was nicely decorated, and there were very large congregations present at each service. A special effort'is being made at the present time to wipe off the circuit debt. The collections on Sunday amounted to .£95 16s. 2d.i which, with the subsidy promised by the trustees, makes a total of .£l9l 12s. 4(1. This leaves .£2O still owing. The anniversary services will be continued this evening.

The Mayor and City Councillors will pay their annual visit of inspection to Wuinui on Wednesday, February 22. The party will make the trip by motorcar.

This week's Gazette has a notice of the trade mark of "Fluenzol," a new medicinal preparation. Originally used by an army surgeon in India for the cure of malaria, the preparation, in a somewhat different form, is said- to have been used with satisfactory results as a remedy for influenza and throat troubles. The Australasian rights have been secured by a strong local proprietary, and full particulars will shortly appear-in our advertising columns. , . ' ;

A well-established movement is on foot in Auckland for -improving, the financial position of the Veterans' Home by largely increasing, if possible, the present endowment from which the home now draws an inadequate income. If- this object is achieved, the executive of the home will bo relieved of the. necessity .for making constant appeals to the generosity of the public. In connection with this-.object, a circular is now being distributed through Auckland, setting out the claims of the institution upon the help of those who can make contribution: ; The circular explains also the accompanying movement for the provision of a memorial to those officers and men who have fallen in the defence, of the Empire, and more particularly those who died in the Maori wars. The actual steps to be taken in 'raising -funds include a peat-military, .display, which will be held in Victoria Park on March 14, IG, and 18. IM-